Auxiliary fuel tank for tractorimplement combination



Dec. 26, 1950 R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,535,301

AUXILIARY FUEL TANK FOR TRACTOR-IMPLEMENT COMBINATION Filed Nov. 19, 1948 Patented Dec. 26, 1950 um'rso PATENT "OFF ICE anAUXILIARYYEUEL TANK FOR TRACTOR M'PIJEMENT COMBINATION P Rbbert Gi' Iie Tourneau, Longview, Tex.,.. assignor to:Rr.-.-G.;,I;e ourneau, Inc., .Stockton, Calif, ta temptationmnCalifornia ."Application' November 19, j1948;{SerialN'. 60,898

ii3iGlaims.

"This inventicn-=-rel'ates in"general to the -fue1 tank-and fuel supply-systerrrfon:a=tractor=imp1ement combination.

The'primary bbjectbf the invention is to increase the fuel.capacity" andaconsequently the running time without'refueling; of the tractor- -.implementcombination by. the; inclusion, on the 'fromone" of: the" 'structuraPmembers of the "implement; and at a"point-abovetheimaingas-tank on the tractor-"so that-the fuel 'fiow betweenzthe.

tanks. is by'gravity.

A further objectof *the invent-icn is to-pro'vide a novel conduit system between the auxiliary fuel tank on the implement and the main fuel tank on the tractor; such conduit system being arranged so that turning of the tractor relative to the implement does not disturb said system.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary fuel tank and valved conduit system, for the purpose described, which includes a valve control member accessible to the tractor driver, so that fuel flow between the tanks may be accomplished by the driver from his seat on said tractor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical and efficient auxiliary fuel tank for tractor-implement combinations, and onewhich will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

The figure of the drawing is a side elevation of a tractor-implement combination embodying the present invention; the view being partly broken away and partly in section to illustrate certain features.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the invention is here illustrated in a combination which includes a two-wheel tractor, indicated generally at I, and an implement, indicated generally at 2, a

the' tractor includes an upstanding cockpit "I; to the rear of which is mounted the operators'se'at 8. Below the cockpit 1 the tractor I includes the main =fuel-tank 9- suitably mounted in connection with the frame'structure of the tractor. The scraper 3, which is here thetrailingimplement, includes transversely spaced;-pneumat-ic tire wheels "I ll, and such scraper is supported; in draft relation from the tractoriby meansof-a "draftyoke; indicated generally at II, connected centrally at the front tothe tractor at therear by means of a couplingand-powersteeringunit I2. Said coupling and'power steering unit I2 includes a longitudinal trunnion l3 journaledfor rotation, about a longitudinal axis, in connection with the'deck IA of the tractor by means includingspaced'trunnion blocks I5. I

- i The draft yoke I I includes a-fronttubular'cross beam I6, and-at opposite ends-rearwardly and downwardly inclined draft beams I1 which connect to opposite sides of the scraper.

The tubular cross beam I6 is formed as an auxiliary fuel tank I8, which tank includes a filler neck I9 at the top and an outlet fitting 20 at the bottom. The outlet fitting 20 is connected to a normally open, manually controlled valve 2 I, which in turn feeds to a flexible hose 22. The flexible hose 22 extends alongside the coupling and power steering unit I2, and at its forward end said hose 22 is attached by a fitting 23 to the foremost one of the trunnion blocks I5.

Such foremost trunnion block I5 has a passage 24 bored therein, and the fitting 23 communicates with one end of such passage. Another fitting 25 is connected to the foremost trunnion block I5 in communication with the opposite end of the passage 24; such fitting 25 being on one end of a conduit 26 which leads forwardly to the main fuel tank 9.

The conduit 26 has a normally closed valve 21 therein, and a valve control handle 28 upstands from said valve 21 within easy reach of the seat 8 for the tractor driver.

When the tractor-implement combination is in use, the tractor I is operated on fuel from the main fuel tank 9 until the supply in the latter is relatively low, as evidenced by the usual fuel gauge. At this time the driver from the seat 8 manipulates the valve control handle 28 to open the valve 21, whereupon fuel from the auxiliary tank I8 flows by gravity through the described conduit system into the main fuel tank 9.

When the latter is substantially full the valve 21 is closed.

It will be evident from the above that the transfer of fuel between the auxiliary fuel tank and the main fuel tank can be accomplished by the driver without leaving the seat 8.

The arrangement is such that the running time of the tractor without refueling from a separate source is greatly increased; there being fewer stops to refuel and consequently less lost time.

As the auxiliary fuel tank I8 is in a plane above the main fuel tank 9, the conduit system can be Wholly gravitational; thus permitting of the use of a simplified arrangement.

The valve 2|, which is normally open, is provided for the purpose of use when the coupling and power steering unit 12 is disconnected for separating the tractor 'l and implement 2.

When such separation is to be undertaken the valve 2! is first closed and then the flexible hose 22 is detached at one end or the other.

From the foregoing readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. An auxiliary fuel tank assembly for an implement which includes a pulling tractor and a pulled vehicle which vehicle includes a draft yoke coupled to the tractor in steerable relation; such auxiliary fuel tank assembly consisting of a tubular cross beam incorporated as an description it will be i integral part of the draft yoke, a fuel inlet means connected with the tubular cross beam at the top and a valved fuel outlet means connected with the tubular cross beam at the bottom, and valve controlled conduit means interposed between said valved outlet and the primary fuel tank on the tractor.

2. A structure as in claim 1 in which the tubular cross beam lies in a horizontal plane higher than the horizontal plane in which the primary tank lies whereby fuel may be permitted to flow by gravity from said auxiliary fuel tank to said primary fuel tank.

, i 3. A structure as in'claim 1 in which said conduit meansincludes a flexible tube connected at i one end to said valved outlet, a non-flexible tube on the tractor connected with the primary fuel tank, the other end of the flexible tube being jconnected with the tube on the tractor, a valve interposed in said latter tube, and an operating handle for said last named valve, such handle extending to a point adjacent the drivers seat on the tractor.

ROBERT G. LE TOURNEAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

